“Silence is often seen as peace, but sometimes it hides the loudest pain.”

Do you know why people stay silent when they are suffering?

They stay silent because they fear being judged by their parents, teachers, and friends.

Thoughts like:

“If I tell them, what will they think of me?”

“No one will talk to me.”

They don’t know whom to talk to because they need someone who will understand them — not someone who judges or criticizes them like many around them do.

Sometimes, they want to speak and take a stand for themselves but can’t — because they were taught from childhood: “Don’t talk back.” That’s why they stay silent. They’ve been through such trauma and emotional numbness, in a phase of life where they’ve lost all energy to speak.

People who suffer silently often fake their smiles. They force themselves to smile, but feel empty inside. They avoid conversations and isolate themselves. They feel lost most of the time and overthink — even small things. They face difficulty in making decisions about their life. When someone asks them “How are you?”, they say “I’m fine” even when they’re really not.

But still, these people fight their own battles with all the strength they have. Being quiet doesn’t always mean that they are depressed or sad — sometimes, they’re just tired of explaining themselves.

How to overcome it-

1.               Practice journaling: Writing your thoughts and emotions helps release inner pain and clarify what you're feeling.

2.               Deep breathing or mindfulness meditation: These reduce anxiety and increase awareness of your emotional state.

3.               Talk to a therapist or counselor: Evidence shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps in breaking negative thinking patterns.

4.               Connect with a support group or trusted friend: Human connection reduces feelings of isolation and self-judgment.

5.               Engage in physical activity: Exercise boosts mood through endorphin release and reduces stress hormones.

6.               Create healthy boundaries: Learning to say no or distance from judgmental people supports emotional healing.

In the end, whenever you see someone quiet in social settings, go and talk to them. Make them feel supported and encourage them to seek help — so they don’t have to go through all this alone.

“Silence isn’t always strength — sometimes it’s fear.”

Submitted by-

Inayat Kaur

Student of Psychology

Intern at PsychoWaves